“I did not think she would ever leave the hospital. The swelling in her brain was so large she couldn’t open her eyes.”

She was in the hospital for two months. She says her sight, hearing, smell and taste have all been damaged, and worries every time she crosses a road that “a car will hit me again”.

Judge Stephen Frucci gave Dejesus the most allowable under the agreement reached when she pleaded guilty to two counts of DUI with maiming. The family wanted more, but also shook hands with the defense attorney afterward.

“I just told (the defense attorney) as the Cabal family, you know, people make mistakes. We have to forgive, so we can heal,” Cabal said.